The state of Jülich-Kleve emerged in western Germany at the end of the
middle age as a result of inheritances and marriages, which united the
duchies of Jülich,
Kleve and Berg as well as the
counties of Mark and Ravensberg.
But even though it was one of the most important states in Germany it is
most famous for the international crisis it caused when its ruling dynasty
became extinct 1609. A crisis that nearly resulted in a full scale
European war. This was because of claims made by the catholic ruler of Pfalz-Neuburg
and the protestant princes of Brandenburg and Saxony to inherit Jülich-Kleve.
The outcome of the inheritance dispute would seriously effect the power
balance in Germany and the Habsburg emperor played also an important when
he in alliance with Saxony tried to gain control over Jülich-Kleve, that
would in its turn influence the war between Spain and the Netherlands.

The assassination of the French king 1610 prevented a full scale war,
but a war over the succession was still fought 1613-1614 between Pfalz-Neuburg
and
Brandenburg. This ended with a partition of the territories, which was
confirmed in a treaty 1666. Brandenburg then acquired
Kleve, Mark and Ravensberg while Pfalz-Neuburg got Jülich and Berg.

Jülich-Berg(also counts of Ravensberg from
1437)

Kleve-Mark

1423-1437
1437-1475
1475-1511
1511- (1539)

Adolf (Berg
from 1408)
Gerhard VII
Wilhelm IV
Johann

1391-1394
1394-1398
1398-1448
1448-1481
1481-1521

Adolf III *
(Kleve from 1368)
Dietrich
Adolf IV
Johann I
Johann II

Jülich-Kleve-Berg(also counts of Ravensberg
and Mark)

1521-1539
1539-1592
1592-16091609-1614

Johann III (Jülich-Berg
from 1511)

Wilhelm
Johann WilhelmSuccession disputed

Jülich-Berg

1609-1614

Philipp Ludwig

1614-1653

Wolfgang Wilhelm

1653- 1690

Philipp Wilhelm

1690-1716

Johann Wilhelm

1716-1742

Karl Philipp

1742-1799

Karl Theodor

1799-1806

Maximilian I Joseph

Grand Duchy of Berg

1806-1808
1809-1813
1814-1945
1945-

Joachim Murat
Ludwig Napoleon
Part of Prussia
Part of Nordrhein-Westfalen

Jülich was conquered by France during the Napoleonic wars
and was formally ceded 1801. Berg was later expanded and elevated to a
grand Duchy, which was given to the French marshal Joachim Murat. When
Napoleon later appointed him king of Naples 1808 did Napoleon's nephew Ludwig Napoleon
become new grand duke of Berg. After the fall of Napoleon was the grand
duchy dissolved and its territory was given to Prussia by the congress of
Vienna.